Wilyer Abreu has powered Venezuela to an early 2-0 lead over the United States with a massive home run to dead center field, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The "monster shot" came off U.S. pitcher Nolan McLean, showcasing what Passan described as one of the purest swings in baseball.
The two-run blast provides significant early momentum for the Venezuelan squad in this international contest. While the offense has provided the lead, the story on the mound has been the dominance of Eduardo Rodriguez. The veteran left-hander has silenced the U.S. bats through the first four innings of play.
According to the report, Rodriguez has allowed only one hit through his first four frames, effectively carving through the American lineup. The United States will look to find an answer for Rodriguez as they attempt to overcome the deficit created by Abreu's home run in the early stages of the game. The contest remains 2-0 in favor of Venezuela as it moves into the middle innings.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Sources & Original Reporting
